Tap wrench



.1. L. STARK `TA1 WRENCH Filed May 17, 1946 July 27, 1948.

` INVENTOR.

uol-m L. STARK,

' f mf I TTMNYS Patented July 27, 1948 UNIT-E o STATES PAT-EN ortica I TAP WRENCH John L. Stark, Chicago; Ill.

ApplicatomMay 17, 1946, Serial No." 670,478

3 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to tap wrenches and is more particularly concerned with a tap Wrench having an adjustable handle as well as adjustable jaws.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a device of the character referred to which is constructed to readily receive and operate the various sizes of taps in 'an ordinary set.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tap wrench of simpler and more compact construction than prior devices, and one which can be easily assembled.

With the foregoing and other objects and advantages in view the invention consists of the novel construction and arrangement oi parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the tap wrench.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section thereof.

Figure 3 is a transverse section on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Like numerals, as used in the description and drawings, designate the same structural parts.

The cylindrical bar handle I is provided with a smooth surface to allow a sliding engagement with the tubular handle II, for quick insertion or removal when desired.

Handle member II is in the form of a sleeve threaded exteriorly for a suitable distance from each end, as at I2.

Loosely mounted on the sleeve are hemispherical members I3, the abutting faces of which form the two jaws of the wrench. The said jaws are provided with radially disposed angular recesses I3', which approximate the shank of a tap when closed, and are of various sizes to accommodate the dierent sizes of taps usually found in a set.

The two hemispherical jaw members I3 are adjustable on the sleeve II by means of two milled nuts I4 and I5 mounted on the threads I2 thereof. These nuts have annular recesses adjacent their inner ends to engage annular bosses I6 on the ends of the two elements of the ball unit.

Diametrically opposed circular sockets I 'I in each of the said jaw members are positioned to register and contain tubular pins I8, the interiors of which contain helical springs I9 designed to normally spread the jaws.

The nut I4 is designed to normally maintain a xed position after it is threaded on the sleeve II while adjustment of the Wrench jaws is attained by manipulation of the opposite nut I5. To fix the nut I4 in position a set screw 25 is 2 threaded through same and also through the sleeve II where it impinges the handle I0, thereby securing it in fixed relation to the sleeve.

Diametrically opposed to said set screw is a socket penetrating both nut and sleeve and containing .a ball 2l! which is normally held against the handle by a coiled spring 2l. Screw plug 22 confines the spring and ball in place. The function of this construction is to prevent the handle from slipping out of the sleeve member.

It is thought that operation of this device will be apparent from the foregoing description.

As different embodiments may be made of this inventive concept .and modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it will' be understood that the matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative merely, and not in a limiting sense.

What I claim is:

1. An adjustable tap wrench comprising a cylindrical handlebar, a tubular sleeve slidably mounted thereon and threaded eXteriorly on each end, rotatable jaw members mounted on said sleeve and provided at their outer ends with annular bosses, nuts threaded on the ends of the sleeve and provided with annular recesses to engage said bosses, means carried by said sleeve operatively engaging one of said nuts and handlebar for securing said nut and sleeve to the bar, there being longitudinally-extending diametrically-opposed sockets in the yabutting faces of said jaw members and positioned to register with each other, and means in the registering sockets for spreading said jaw members apart normally, the abutting faces of said jaw members being provided with recesses in register to contain tap Shanks.

2. An adjustable tap wrench comprising a cylindrical handlebar, a tubular sleeve slidably mounted thereon and threaded exteriorly on each end, rotatable jaw members mounted on said sleeve and provided at their outer ends with annular bosses, nuts threaded on the ends of the sleeve and provided with annular recesses to engage said bosses, means carried by said .sleeve operatively engaging one of said nuts and said handlebar for securing said nut and sleeve to the bar, there being longitudinally-extending diametrically-opposed sockets in the abutting faces of said jaw members and positioned to register with each other, pins mounted in the registering sockets, and resilient means mounted in each of said pins for spreading said jaw members apart normally, the abutting faces of said jaw members being provided with radially-disposed angular recesses in register to contain tap shanks.

3. An adjustable tap Wrench comprising a cylindrical handlebar, a tubular sleeve slidably mounted thereon and threaded exteriorly on each end, rotatable jaw members mounted on said sleeve and provided at their outer ends with annul-ar bosses, nuts threaded on the ends of the sleeve and provided with annular recesses to engage said bosses, means carried by said sleeve operatively engaging one of said nuts and said handlebar for securing said nut and sleeve to the bar, there being longitudinally-extending diametrically-opposed sockets in the abutting faces of said jaw members and positioned to register with each other, pins mounted in the registering sockets, resilient means mounted in eachof said A REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS ".'Number Name Date 10,506 Hayden Feb. '7, 18-5'4 208,748 May Oct. 8, 1878 1 595,312 Keiper Dec. 14, 1897 

